Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-13
WILL THE THING" BLOW OVER p

to stop up the fountains of justice, is to be
looked at in two lights. That self-respect-
ing citizens in San Francisco should deem
such action a necessity, is humiliating
confession of deplorable but undeniable
condition of society. There could arise no
such need, except the cstse existed in
abnormal social conditions of the COM
munity. For all the yenality, weakness
and corruption to-day in San Francisco in
official and political circles, the people are
directly and individually responsible, and
none are more culpably blameworthy than
those who now confess their error by
hastily organizing to aid in the discovery
of crimes against the municipality and the
people. If the present uncovering Of
scandals in that city, and the disclosure OF
attempts to defile the Courts and prostitute
the jury system to the ends of the vicious
and criminal element. shall bring about
among citizens who have been grossly
neglectful of duty to the town in which
they live, and practically disloyal to their
obligations as sovereigns, sincere and last
ing conviction of their wrong-doing, great
good may be expected to result from the
present excitement.
In another view, the organization of the
Committee Of Safety commands the highest
regard and commentator of orderly and
law-loving people, for it testifes that in
the hour Of peril the better elements can
be relied upon to rally against the hosts of
evil The heart of the American people
is sound; however gross their laches in
regard to duty-doing, they are at the bot
tom loyal to the institutions that conserve
peace, order, law and uprightness. The
very fact that there are several hundred
responsible men in San Francisco who have
the courage to face the criminal element
and the secret influences behind it, and de-
mand their submission, demonstrates the
ability of decency snd whiteness in the
community at az times to conduct public
affairs The very existence of the Com
m'ttee of Safety, and the public approval
1t receives, establishes beyond question
that if decent citizens will, they can-there
and everywhere in the land-control.
Just now vice and its agents in San
Francisco cover before public wrath, and
fee from the face Of an outraged commu-
nifty, and there will he no one to blame.
we repeat, but the people, if this nantes
tation Of popular indignation against the
venal and the political corruptionists shall
prove ephemeral, and the old influences
presently resume their sway. The fact is
being energetically emphasized, in San
Francisco to-day, in an orderly manner, that
honesty in government is possibility, and
that communities are bound hand and foot
by the vicious, only when they consent tc
be fettered.
We want in all cities in this country the
return Of the gentleman in force to politi-
cal fields; the gentleman defined as the
citizen who despises meanness, commands
his own respect and that of his neighbors,
and who will neither stain his hand with
bride nor be silent or blind while Others
do so. There is work enough in the affairs
of self-government to legitimately employ
every such man some time every month
of his life. If he does not SO engage he
must expect iniquity to develop, as weeds
spring up in neglected garden. We care
great deal less for brains and broadcloth
in government and trusts, than for ac.
siyity in duty-doing, honesty and decency.
1t was the wise and far-Seeking DR.. Hol-
land who said that "We can afford to get
along without scholars in the government
OF cities if we can only have modestly
educated gentlemen" meaning thereby the
honest, intelligent, ,elf-sacrifcing man,
whether his palms be horny or soft.
The need for safety committees, the dis
trust of municipal prosecutors and officials
the appeals to the State for advocates to
confront villainy at the bar of Justice, will
cease when public interest is by the people
made to rise superior to political intrigue
party advantage and personal ambition
Ofice-seeking must be redeemed from what
it now so large is, vice, and made what ii
can be, popular recognition of honesty and
ability, before American communities will
have fully demonstrated their capacity for
sef-government.
The present outburst in San Francisco
is really hot protest against the charge
Of incapacity which dangerous and venal
men have made against society by their
INSCRIPTIONS assumption of power and
shameless domination of the public, in
order to fatten their purses and
advance unworthy ambition. If the
heat of the hour amounts to no more
than protest, very little and but temper
airy benefit will result. In that case the
old conditions will be restored as soon
the thing blows over" the old regime will
resume power, until in the excess of its
greed 1t invekes another popular upheaval
But since in last resort the people can be
relied upon, and in no peril will likely
desert the institutions of selfgovernment,
or entirely consent to their subyersion, the
hope may be entertained that with each
protest some advance may be made, until al
Last the corrupt elements will be put ant
kept under honest feet.
THE Los Angeles Express oE October 9th
III commenting upon an editorial which
lately appeared in the columns of the
REceRD-UNIoS, concerning TIE attack
made upon the vslues of real estate in
Southern California -ks-tAe -Gslife-saia cor.
respondent of the Nexr York Herds, says
We are glad to have the motive OF this
correspondent of the Herdid properly
shown up, and We are grateful to the